House Ways and Means Committee

114th Congress (2014 cycle)

When Congress is drafting tax legislation, there is no committee busier and more popular than House Ways and Means. Lobbyists often pay people to stand in the corridors of Congress watching every move. Because when it comes to this type of complex legislation, every detail counts for something. Special interests often use these behemoth bills as vehicles for their legislative wish lists, hoping the sheer size of the proposals will divert attention from their sought-after provisions. Since tax bills affect so many industries' bottom lines, it's little surprise that members should attract generous donations from a variety of sources, including health professionals and insurance companies.

Sectors Contributing to Members of this Committee, 2014 Election Cycle

PACs

Indivs

Agribusiness

$1,691,864

$1,044,555

Communic/Electronics

$2,236,764

$770,093

Construction

$1,513,775

$1,243,626

Defense

$1,471,700

$129,951

Energy/Nat Resource

$2,836,938

$1,194,976

Finance/Insur/RealEst

$11,449,972

$5,965,893

Health

$8,173,635

$2,424,105

Lawyers & Lobbyists

$1,181,639

$3,319,340

Transportation

$2,238,710

$772,177

Misc Business

$5,277,347

$3,409,103

Labor

$2,876,420

$3,240

Ideology/Single-Issue

$2,069,951

$1,051,292

Other

$106,800

$3,584,689

Figures are based on Federal Election Commission data released electronically
on February 02, 2015 Numbers are taken from PAC donations and individual contributions of more than $200.

Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the
Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses,
such as textbooks, contact the Center: info@crp.org

Find Your Representatives

Count Cash & Make Change.

OpenSecrets.org is your nonpartisan guide to money's influence on U.S. elections and
public policy. Whether you're a voter, journalist, activist, student or interested citizen,
use our free site to shine light on your government.